From "Resisting Trump 2.0 with Brain-Rot Memes/We participate in political memes to express our anxiety that whatever is coming next might be even more chaotic than what is already happening" (The New Yorker).
Key phrase: "In the absence of anything more galvanizing."
ADDED: Here's my earlier post about the JD Vance images, "Tell me about the social media meme that's just different images of JD Vance." That has an embedded tweet from Vance himself, passing along one of the images. As I said in the comments there: "I think this works in favor of JD Vance. His antagonists probably thought he was thin skinned and would demand respect (like the respect he demanded that Zelensky show to Trump). Now the meme is making him a pop culture icon and a standout in the fight for the 2028 GOP nomination. It's in the tradition of Trump, whose appearance and personality have been subject to endless foolery for decades."
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64 comments:
Most of those memes came from Vance fans.
They could try letting the new Administration get past the first 100 days…
I grow weary of hearing Republicans continuing their celebration of the Democrat's wilderness period. I'm tired of the crowing. Donald Trump won the election and led the party to a powerful position. But the passengers on the bus are the ones claiming happy victory.
So, do something with it, and tell me what your progress is ! Show some pride, don't be snide. I want to know what constructive progress Congress is making - not how comfortable you find Donald Trump's coattails.
A Senate seat was just lost in Pennsylvania. I read that it was a historically Democrat district that had gone for Harris, but that was wrong (can't find that citation now, either). It was historically Republican, and their to lose - and they did.
That's an early warning. Trump and Musk have been communicating daily on what progress they are making, and now, so has Junior' at HHS. Party time is over Republicans. Get To Work and report your Progress ! .
Lazarus said, "Most of those memes came from Vance fans."
They're hilarious. I made a few myself, especially the fat-faced Vance ones. Vance-as-heckin-chonker cracks me up.
The left can't meme. Still.
@Aggie - While I agree that gloating alone will accomplish nothing, we should enjoy it while we can. I'm not inclined to give liberals any breathing room. I say berate and demoralize them into oblivion. They've earned it. At the same time, continue demanding that Congress deliver on this rare and historic opportunity. We can do both at the same time.
The left cannot have a sense of humor because the entire foundation of their party is based on lies.
The progressives cannot be honest about what they want to do to the country.
And now we are finding out the entire progressive movement is funded through NGOs who are getting US taxpayer dollars.
Really these people are just thieves and violent scumbags and they need to be destroyed.
I agree, most of the Vance memes were from fans. I made one of Vance as Captain Picard’s number one in Star Trek Next Gen and I am a Vance fan.
The New Soviets are just as humorless as the Old Soviets.
Yes, this and dropping the F word like sailors is what the Democrats have to offer right now. Including the odious Duckworth from WI.
The Democrat Party is the pro-graft, fraud and waste party and they are proving it. First the country needs a budget with specific line items that can be vetoed by the president on a line by line basis and the elimination of continuing resolutions. Congress needs to be held accountable for each line item. Second other than contractual obligations all spending needs to be from a zero base and federal employees should get a commission of every dollar of spending they reduce or don't spend. Incentives matter.
The Left can't meme and can't play defense. If they aren't running the show (or the operation like Russiagate and Signalgate and etc.) they become a chaotic mess of threats, attention seeking, conflicting statements and generally toddler-like tantrums. When Crocket and AOC are your standard bearers of the moment, well, you get what you paid for.
It’s interesting that the Journo-list like coalescence of all democratic attacks has such a manufactured, bad-faith aroma that is not working the way they think it is working. Hearing the exact same words mouthed in robotically lock-step fashion by all opposition has the effect of driving people away from that viewpoint due to its lack of authenticity.
The old tricks ain’t working, but remain a mainstay of the playbook.
Charlie can't surf, Proggy can't meme
I hate to break it to the left, but memes are political cartoons.
We've gone from "Herbblock" is a genius who can bring down regimes and end wars" to "Those incels in their pajamas are destroying democracy with their little pictures and text."
"Democrats have struggled to craft any sort of effective message of opposition to the second Trump Administration."
That's because Trump is doing good things that the American people want, and the Dems have nothing to offer.
What the Dems should be trying to do is come up with some policies that normal people want, and will make their lives better.
But the Dems can NOT do that, because their core hates normal people
The Vance meme's from the left were really juvenile and just plain dumb. Only when the right embraced it did it become creative and funny. Conservatives are happy warriors; liberals are miserable creatures.
Wow, Aggie, that's a ton of shit you have to dump.
1: Trump is cutting the Dems access to taxpayer $$$ to fund their corruption. For those who aren't in on the corruption, this is a win.
2: Trump is deporting criminal aliens. For those who aren't utter scum, this is a huge win
3: Yes, there was just a special election where a state Senate seat was lost in PA, by ~400 votes (less than 1% of the vote). Yes, it was a Republican district.
Since the GOP majority in the PA State Senate was bigger than 1, this is an irritation (we have to get better at GOTV in these lower turnout races), but claims that it's because of "voter anger", rather than "trump voters aren't special election voters" is, um, unsupported by any evidence
Oh, and Aggie: gloating is GREAT! People who are having fun from being involved are more likely to stay involved.
Oh, and get out and vote. Which we need
"Trump, whose appearance and personality have been subject to endless foolery for decades." Yeah, all those standard-issue 'Trump is Hitler!' memes were just fooleries. Maybe japes. Or even railleries. You almost never see a good raillery nowadays.
They can't craft an effect message because their policies suck. Trump has managed to get the Democrats to defend (1) government waste, fraud, and abuse (2) Venezuelan gangbangers, (3) boys dominating girls' sports, (4) illegals, and (5) Hamas aiders and abettors. He nearly got them to shut down the government and the braindead wing of the party wants to oust Chuck Schumer for it.
Chaos or an undetermined order... an order unsympathetic to their kleptocratic regime, human rites practice, Mengele/Levine clinical experiments, DEI, and other progressive principles.
@Greg The Class Traitor - If you'll note, I commented that Trump is getting a lot done, as is his cabinet, many of whom have not been on seat for terribly long. They are not the ones I am referring to. But: Congress has been in session for 100 days. What have they managed to course-correct on - besides gloating and celebrating the Democrat's difficulties? If we, the voters, don't stay on their butts digging the spurs, the midterms will be a repeat of Pennsylvania's state Senate special election. There are more exceptions to the rule this time around, I will admit, more Trumpian Republicans, fewer RINOs. I am looking for the course corrections.
""Democrats have struggled to craft any sort of effective message..."
Have they really even tried? Reading recycled taking points and public swearing doesn't take much effort.
The Democrats are on the wrong side of every 80/20 issue.
Maybe that has something to do with it
"We participate in political memes to express our anxiety that whatever is coming next might be even more chaotic than what is already happening"
Well, that's just wrong. Maybe this misunderstanding is limiting their memeing work.
yes they are possums, what they did two bills and a continuing resolution,
" But: Congress has been in session for 100 days. What have they managed to course-correct on - besides gloating and celebrating the Democrat's difficulties?"
Not much, but you ignore the difficulty or impossibility of getting anything significant past the Senate due to the 60 vote rule.
Tampon Tim Walz goes on and on about his masculinity and toughness. That bit with his problems in loading a shotgun was priceless. J.D. Vance risked going all Dukakis yesterday. He went down to Marine Base Quantico--ate lunch with the troops. That was good. Then he shows up in some goofy looking combat gear and runs a canister of ammo through a SAW (light machine gun). Still wearing some of the goofy combat gear, he goes out to the rifle range. I'm certain the PR flaks will say he shot "Expert". Then he goes over to the artillery range, joins the Cannon Cockers and fires a howitzer, and helps remove the smoking shell case from the tube. I really don't think that Timmy wants to match macho with JD in 2028.
Aggie said...
@Greg The Class Traitor - If you'll note, I commented that Trump is getting a lot done, as is his cabinet, many of whom have not been on seat for terribly long. They are not the ones I am referring to. But: Congress has been in session for 100 days. What have they managed to course-correct on - besides gloating and celebrating the Democrat's difficulties? If we, the voters, don't stay on their butts digging the spurs, the midterms will be a repeat of Pennsylvania's state Senate special election. There are more exceptions to the rule this time around, I will admit, more Trumpian Republicans, fewer RINOs. I am looking for the course corrections.
I was going to make this point and back Aggie up.
The Republican Party is still worthless. Completely worthless.
The only people doing anything is Trump and the people in his cabinet. The Republicans in congress are clearly hoping to wait Trump out and go back to business as usual.
Aggie said...
But I was promised!!
Ya shoulda voted for Harris. Oh, wait.
@Rabel: "Not much, but you ignore the difficulty or impossibility of getting anything significant past the Senate due to the 60 vote rule...."
Respectfully, I call that the Mitch McConnell defense. Passing legislation isn't supposed to be easy. The voters have been clear with their communication to both halls of Congress. They have been granted a majority to get a job done.
Where's the 'Single Big Beautiful Bill'? Is writing too hard, too?
So far it's working to drive Donald's approval rating South of the border into Old Mexico. Miller's blitzkrieg approach is slowing into trench lawfare.
IMO, DOGE better hit some 90% popular home runs within the next month or face a complete loss of momentum. They need to make more news that's positive because we are now getting flooded with Democrat horror shows.
"Mike (MJB Wolf) said...
Yes, this and dropping the F word like sailors is what the Democrats have to offer right now. Including the odious Duckworth from WI."
Illinois
"We participate in political memes to express our anxiety that whatever is coming next might be even more chaotic than what is already happening"
You're doing it wrong.
Also, if you have to explain the joke...
Howard--what "Democrat horror shows" are you talking about? Trump's approval ratings are as high as they have ever been--and the Dems are lower than ever.
Today's front -page headlines @ the SF Chronicle:
1. Hegseth tries the defense patented by his boss (He lies)
2. Trump law firm attacks imperil right to counsel
3. Experts mull whether U.S. at a 'crisis' point
EDITORIAL PAGE (as if the entire paper wasn't):
4. Trump misusing archaic law for mass deportations
He's lodged in their heads like a parasite.
"They have been granted a majority to get a job done."
Again, their ability to do great things is limited by the Senate's cloture rules.
They have crafted an "effective message of opposition" in the constant drumbeat of negativity from the media.
Its dishonest top to bottom, but it is effective, up to a point.
I remember the heat Rush took for daring to say "I hope he fails" in reference to Obama.
Now they are in open resistance.
Illinois
Ah. Noted. Thanks, George!
JD Vance will be our next President. He's a more polished Trump. He's full MAGA and in touch with his blue-collar peeps.
@Mike (MJB Wolf), Tammy Baldwin, Tammy Duckworth, they have different biographies from their pre-Senate days, but is there a dime’s worth of difference in the way they vote?
Democrats have struggled to craft any sort of effective message of opposition is right. My social media feeds are filled right now with nothing but retreads from 2016: Trump is a womanizer, a bad businessman, a draft dodger, a lying con man and one today even brought up that he mocked the disabled reporter. It's so coordinated this has to be the Talking Point of the Week, at least on social media.
Maybe Sanders, Schumer, Warren et al got tired of pushing the old "He's going to gut Social Security so he can give tax cuts to his billionaire friends." But they are completely unable to come up with anything better.
We've gone from "Herbblock" is a genius who can bring down regimes and end wars" to "Those incels in their pajamas are destroying democracy with their little pictures and text."
Herblock produced the most lame, banal, unimaginative, crudely drawn propaganda imaginable. Seemed like once a month he'd have a stereotypical criminal in a flat cap, eye mask, and 5 o'clock shadow shooting at a cop with whatever kind of gun the Democrats were trying to confiscate from law-abiding citizens, while a stereotypical redneck in an NRA cap stood by and applauded.
Horsey does the same tired, stupid, repetitive shit nowadays, but has five times the artistic talent. Doesn't matter. He has fifty times less influence.
It speaks to how thoroughly we have kicked the newspapers off their throne that nobody EVER talks about Herblock, Horsey, or other editorial cartoonists any more, unless in a critical forum like this, while ten thousand snot-nosed gamer punks on 4chan are producing fresher and much more amusing content than they ever did. Some of them have made an actual profession out of it, like Carpe Donktum.
And in other media, the satirists on our side, from Seth Dillon to Matt Walsh to Greg Gutfeld, are blowing their leftist competition totally out of the water. What a time to be alive, and see the Democrat enemies of humanity being given such a glorious ass-kicking.
Still wearing some of the goofy combat gear, he goes out to the rifle range. I'm certain the PR flaks will say he shot "Expert".
I heard him ring 300-yard gongs twice in a row in that clip. He earned "Expert" qualification badges with rifle and pistol while he was a Marine.
I heard him ring 300-yard gongs twice in a row in that clip.
It's surprising that people are surprised he can "still shoot." After all, once you have the technique down, hitting the target consistently is easy. Routine. Maybe that "goofy" adjective is a tell, because my hunch is non-shooters just don't get it.
G the CT, you are kinda making Aggie's point - everything you listed was a Trump accomplishment, the new supposedly republican congress has done nothing as yet. Get off your asses, you have wasted 12.5% of your time!
".... and one today even brought up that he mocked the disabled reporter. "
That is because aforementioned Jasmine Crockett mocked a wheelchair bound fellow politician yesterday.
They are fighting fire with..well, lies.
"My social media feeds are filled right now with nothing but retreads from 2016..."
I initially read that as "My social media feeds are filled right now with nothing but retards from 2016..."
To be fair, both work.
Now the meme is making him a pop culture icon and a standout in the fight for the 2028 GOP nomination.
…a gentle reminder: it is fucking March of 2025. March. If you’re hanging in to 2028 today- March, you’re not gonna make it…
My suspicion is that the Democrats problems with Trump and his followers are not matters of policy but rather of perceived class.
The party of That's Not Funny discovers that it is not funny.
Maybe if the left didn't spend every waking moment opposing Trump, they could actually come up with their own ideas.
Or would that be too much to ask....
Pointed out in many forums, all of Trump's actions to date are supported by 60%-80% of the population. So the Democrats to oppose him are putting themselves on the wrong side of 60-40 to 80-20 supported by the voters issues. Makes it really tough to come up with things to effectively oppose him.
And their judges aren't doing them any favors, Oh, yeah, they're ruling just the way the Dems want them to, and that's why they aren't doing any favors for them. They're forced to lie, well not forced, they willingly lie about things- "HE"S GOING TO CUT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY! AND OLD PEOPLE ARE GOING TO STARVE!" Once upon a time that was effective- but they no longer control the news media. They have a modicum of control over the MSM, which it seems, is not so mainstream anymore. Social media owns the news cycle. Ant without the heavy hand of censorship- which enabled petty dictators around the country to corral the population during the covidiocy, well, they've really lost control of messaging.
And then there's the no surprise thing. Trump is doing everything he promised to.
And the surprise thing to the vast majority of the populace- things like it becomes a government emergency in Australia because the USA is cutting research funding to their universities. As in, for most people, that's a WTF! moment. Why is the USA funding Australian universities? Actually, that one caught me by surprise. Tough by the time it came out it was just another nail in the coffin story.
Howard said...
“So far it's working to drive Donald's approval rating South of the border into Old Mexico.”
So the denizens of Mexico have rising approval ratings of Trump just like we do here? Cool.
The Democrats have several messages:
Trump is a threat to our bureaucracy!
We stole billions fair and square!
Canceling billions to USAID will cut thousands to the poor!
Trump is a threat to our way of life!
Vile and violent vilification and lies - that's all the left have.
The Democxrat Party is a Sewer.
Their emerging A-team so far - all frauds. But loyal to the mob.
It's in the tradition of Trump, whose appearance and personality have been subject to endless foolery for decades.
There used to a common saying... "just make sure you spell my name right".
So- the Democrats are still trying to figure out how to repackage the shit sandwiches they're offering so that people can't tell what's in them, then? I bet they're regretting having pushed for those truth-in-labeling laws now.
Reported on Powerilne...
On March 3, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an order, calling for state workers to return to the office at least four (4) days a week.
In Democrat-controlled Atlanta, GA, city workers will have to return to the office at least 3 days a week, beginning April 10.
To be outdone, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has ordered state workers back in the office at least half the time (2 1/2 days per week?).
Results? The Democrat dogs don't like the food their Democrat leaders are serving.
NYT Superstar Ezra Klein is trying to Nudge (hat tip Malcolm Gladstone) the DNC via his *Doge with kindness* and deliberation called "Abundance" also title of his latest book.
He's on Lex Fridman podcast for a book promotion disguised as a very technowonky bull session. Coauthor Whatshisname also on board. This is the state of the art of the intellectually medium gray web bro operators on the left
Touche, Rocco
Notice how it's always about "resisting" Trump, never about working with him. Compare to how Tip O'Neil and Congress worked with Reagan after the 1980 election. Granted Reagan's win was a landslide, but the Democrats still controlled the House. The Dems still think it's 2017 and Trump is somehow illegitimate (not that he was then, but that was the mantra). Americans aren't buying that crap any more. Dems would do better by respecting the vote (and the American people), but they can't let go of just being obstructionists on everything, even things that are popular with the public.
It's pretty hard to create effective messaging when your party platform is:
1) We love bribes from the Chinese government.
2) Parents should be jailed for homeschooling.
3) We want to mutilate and groom your children for our incel government union mercenary thugs.
4)ALL JEWS MUST DIE!
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